Indonesia Supreme Court to hear second appeal of 2002 Bali bombers

[JURIST] The Supreme Court of Indonesia on Monday announced it will consider a second appeal of the convictions of three men found responsible at trial for the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings [BBC backgrounder]. The Supreme Court ordered a lower district court to assemble a panel of judges to review the merits of the bombers' latest appeal, after which their recommendation will be considered by the Supreme Court in making a final decision. The Supreme Court rejected their first appeal in December, but accepted the second appeal [JURIST reports] to determine whether the bombers should have been tried under retroactive laws that were not in effect when the bombings took place. The three men - Mukhlas, Amrozi, and Imam Samudra [BBC profiles] - will be executed if their appeal is not successful.

In August 2007, the Indonesian government reduced the sentences [JURIST report] of 10 other Islamic militants convicted for their roles in the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings [BBC report]. Originally serving between eight to 18 years, six of the militants received a sentence reduction of five months, while the other four received a reduction of two months. Terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah [MIPT backgrounder; JURIST news archive] has been blamed for both Bali bombings. ABC News has more. AAP has additional coverage.

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